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Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.

Lofoten (Norse Lófót) was originally the old name of the island Vestvågøya. The first element is ló (i.e., "lynx") and the last element is derived from Norse fótr (i.e., "foot"), as the shape of the island must have been compared with a foot of a lynx. (The old name of the neighbouring island Flakstadøya was Vargfót, "the foot of a wolf", from vargr "wolf". See also Ofoten.)

"There is evidence of human settlement extending back at least 11,000[ yrs in Lofoten, and] the earliest archaeological sites ... are only about 5,500 yrs old, at the transition from the early to late Stone Age." Iron Age agriculture, livestock, and significant human habitation can be traced back to ~250 BC.

The town of Vågan (Norse Vágar) is the first known town formation in northern Norway. It existed in the early Viking Age, maybe earlier, and was located on the southern coast on eastern Lofoten, near today's village Kabelvåg in Vågan municipality. However, the Lofotr Viking Museum with the reconstructed 83-meter-long longhouse (the largest known) is located near Borg on Vestvågøy, which have many archeological finds from the Iron Age and Viking Age.

The islands have for more than 1,000 years been the centre of great cod fisheries, especially in winter, when the cod migrates south from the Barents Sea and gathers in Lofoten to spawn. Bergen in southwestern Norway was for a long time the hub for further export south to large parts of Europe, particularly so when trade was controlled by the Hanseatic League. In the lowland areas, particularly Vestvågøy, agriculture plays a significant role, as it has done since the Bronze Age.

Lofotr was originally the name of the island of Vestvågøy only. Later it became the name of the chain of islands. The chain of islands with its pointed peaks looks like a lynx foot from the mainland. In Norwegian, it is always a singular. Another name one might come across, is "Lofotveggen" or the Lofoten wall. The archipelago looks like a closed wall when seen from elevated points around Bodø or when arriving from the sea, some 100 km long, and 800-1,000 m. high.

In 1941 the islands were raided by British Commandos during Operation Claymore in March and a subsequent diversionary attack to support the Vaagso raid in December.

Lofoten is located at the 68th and 69th parallels north of the Arctic Circle in North Norway. It is well known for its natural beauty within Norway. Lofoten encompasses the municipalities of Vågan, Vestvågøy, Flakstad, Moskenes, Værøy, and Røst. The principal islands, running from north to south, are

Southern tip of Hinnøya.

Southern 60% (approx.) of Austvågøy (526.7 km² in total 68°20′N 14°40′E),

Gimsøy (46.4 km² 68°18′N 14°11′E),

Vestvågøy (411.1 km² 68°10′N 13°45′E),

Flakstadøya (109.8 km² 68°5′N 13°20′E),

Moskenesøya (185.9 km² 67°55′N 13°0′E),

whilst further to the south are the small and isolated islands of Værøy (67°40′N 12°40′E) and Røst (67°37′N 12°7′E). The total land area amounts to 1,227 km², and the population totals 24,500. Many will argue that Hinnøya, the northern part of Austvågøy and several hundred smaller islands, skerries and rocks to the east of Austvågøy are also part of the Lofoten complex. Historically the territorial definition of Lofoten has changed significantly. Between the mainland and the Lofoten archipelago lies the vast, open Vestfjorden, and to the north is Vesterålen. The principal towns in Lofoten are Leknes in Vestvågøy and Svolvær in Vågan. The Lofoten Islands are characterised by their mountains and peaks, sheltered inlets, stretches of seashore and large virgin areas. The highest mountain in Lofoten is Higravstinden (1,161 m / 3,800 ft) in Austvågøy; the Møysalen National Park just northeast of Lofoten has mountains reaching 1,262 meters. The famous Moskstraumen (Malstrøm) system of tidal eddies is located in western Lofoten, and is indeed the root of the term maelstrom.

The sea is rich with life, and the world's largest deep water coral reefis located west of Røst. Lofoten has a very high density of sea eagles and cormorants, and millions of other sea birds, among them the colourful puffin. Otters are common, and there are moose on the largest islands. There are some woodlands with Downy birch and Rowan. There are no native conifer forests in Lofoten, but some small areas with private spruce plantations. Sorbus hybrida ("Rowan whitebeam") and Malus sylvestris occur in Lofoten, but not further north.

The animals mistaken as the extinct Great Auk turned out to be some of the nine King penguins released around Norway’s Lofoten Islands in August 1936, there until at least 1944.

Winter temperatures in Lofoten are very mild considering their location north of the Arctic Circle – Lofoten has the largest positive temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. This is a result of the Gulf Stream and its extensions: the North Atlantic Current and the Norwegian Current. Røst and Værøy are the most northerly locations in the world where average temperatures are above freezing all year. May and June are the driest months, while October has three times as much precipitation. The warmest recording in Svolvær is 30.4°C (87°F).

Strong winds can occur in late autumn and winter. Snow and sleet are not uncommon in winter, the mountains can have substantial amounts of snow, and in some winters, avalanches might come down from steep mountain slopes. Two of the top ten deadliest rainstorms ever recorded passed through Lofoten.

In Svolvær, the sun is above the horizon continuously ("midnight sun") from 25 May to 17 July, and in winter the sun does not rise from 4 December to 7 January. In Leknes, the sun is above the horizon from 26 May to 17 July, and in winter the sun does not rise from 9 December to 4 January.

The temperature in the sea has been recorded since 1935. At 1 m depth in the sea near Skrova, water temperatures varies from a low of 3°C in March to 14°C in August. Some years peaking above 17°C. November is around 7-8°C. At a depth of 200 m the temperature is near 8°C all year.

Mountaineering and rock climbing

Lofoten offers many rock climbing and mountaineering opportunities. It has 24 hours of daylight in the summer and has Alpine-style ridges, summits and glaciers, but at a height of less than 1,200 metres. The main centre for rock climbing is Henningsvær on Austvågøya.

The main areas for mountaineering and climbing are on Austvågøya and Moskenesøya. Moskenesøya is the most complete area for climbing. For more information, see the books by Dyer and Webster.

Surfing

Unstad is one of its better known locations for surfing.

Cycling

There is a well marked cycling route that goes from Å in the south and continues past Fiskebøl in the north. The route is part public road, part cycle-path with the option to bypass all of the tunnels by either cycle-path (tunnels through mountains) or boat. Traffic is generally light, although in July there may be a lot of campervans. Some of the more remote sections are on gravel roads. There is a dedicated cycling ferry which sails between Ballstad and Nusfjord, allowing cyclists to avoid the long, steep Nappstraum tunnel. The route hugs the coastline for most of its length where it is generally flat. As it turns inland through the mountain passes there are a couple of 3-400 meter climbs.

The Lofoten Insomnia Cycling Race takes place every year around midsummer, possible in the midnight sun, but surely in 24-hr daylight, along the whole Lofoten archipelago.

PS_6738.jpg by Benson lin

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PS- 12 2012- by Poppy

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PS_6908.jpg by Benson lin

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PS Waverley Model by Graeme

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A model of the London and North Eastern Railway paddle steamer Waverley built by A&J Inglis at Pointhouse in Glasgow in 1946.

Seen at Ship Ahoy event at the Scottish Maritime Museum at Irvine.

PS_22294 by Pat

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PS_7301.jpg by Benson lin

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PS_70904-2 by Pat

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PS Waverley by Das Boot 160

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Waverley departing Seacombe outbound for North Wales.

Name: PS Waverley

Operators: 1946–48: London and North Eastern Railway;

1948–73: Caledonian Steam Packet Company;

since 1973: Waverley Excursions

Builder: A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow

Yard number: 1330P

Launched: 2 October 1946

Maiden voyage: 16 June 1947

Identification:

IMO Number: 5386954

Callsign: GRPM

MMSI Number: 23200154

Class & type: Coastal excursion paddle steamer

Tonnage: 693 grt

Length: 239 ft 11 in (73.13 m)

Beam: 57 ft 3 in (17.45 m)

Draught: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Propulsion: Diagonal triple expansion steam engine built by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock

Speed:

14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) in service

Trials speed in 1947 18.37 knots (34.02 km/h; 21.14 mph) at 56 rpm

Capacity: Up to 925 passengers in Class V waters.

Waverley Bump... by ArgyllFoto

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Attempting to 'wheel round' the Paddle Steamer PS Waverley gets a bump.. (see last photo).

See older photo' of PS Waverley wheeling round to reverse out of Rothesay Outer Harbour, Isle of Bute..

(On the evening of Friday 15 July 1977 while returning from a cruise and approaching Dunoon pier, Waverley's steering failed and she struck the rocks to the south called The Gantocks. Firmly aground and down by the head the ship was extensively damaged.[citation needed] There was some doubt about whether or not she would hold together on refloating but she did, and she was repaired and returned to service.[citation needed] Her survival was attributed to her heavier than normal post World War II construction which had included provision for minesweeping gear and a deck gun in case she was ever requisitioned by the Admiralty for use in a future war.

On 7 August 2006 Waverley ran aground while leaving Girvan pier, but she was able to return to the pier to allow her 715 passengers to disembark.

On 15 September 2008 Waverley was involved in minor damage to Worthing Pier. After she berthed and secured lines to pier bollards, part of the landing stage was dislodged. The ship escaped damage and the only damage to the pier was that a length of timber was pulled out, but she had to leave without taking on passengers.

On 26 June 2009 Waverley struck the breakwater at Dunoon, damaging both the ship and the breakwater. Some 700 people were aboard at the time, of whom 12 suffered minor injuries. The ship returned to Glasgow, where the damage was assessed. One week later she was back in service on the Clyde.)

The main crank is solidly attached to both paddle wheels so they cannot turn independently of each other. The Waverley therefore has a much larger turning circle than modern ferries.

Named after Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, Paddle Steamer PS Waverley was built on the Clyde in 1947 - to replace the original Waverley that sunk off Dunkirk during active war service in 1940.

Waverley’s keel was laid on December 27, 1945 but due to material shortages after the war, she was not ready for launch until October 2, 1946.

It wasn’t until the following year on January 20, 1947 that she was towed to Greenock for the installation of her boiler and engines. Finally she made her maiden voyage on June 16, 1947 and started what was to become a very long career.

Since 2003 Waverley has been listed in the National Historic Fleet by National Historic Ships UK as "a vessel of pre-eminent national importance". She appeared in the 2011 film 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'. She is claimed to be "the most photographed ship in the world."

Waverley has had several colour schemes in her life. Early photographs show paddle boxes painted sometimes white and sometimes black. The gold stripe along the hull is in some photos and not others. Today Waverley has the LNER 1947 livery of red, white and black funnels, traditional brown-grained (or "scumbled") superstructure and black paddle-wheel boxes, decorated with gold lettering on each side.

Waverley was originally intended to sail only between Craigendoran & Arrochar in West Scotland. She now sails right round Britain offering regular trips on the Clyde, the Thames, South Coast of England and the Bristol Channel with calls at Liverpool & Llandudno.

Waverley is the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer. In 1975, at the end of her working life, she was famously bought for £1 by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, a charity registered in Scotland, was set up.

Tonnage:693 grt;

Length:239 ft 11 in (73.13 m);

Beam: 57 ft 3 in (17.45 m);

Draught:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).

Installed power:2,100 ihp (1,566kW)

Waverley is powered by a three-crank diagonal triple-expansion marine steam engine built by Rankin & Blackmore, Engineers, Eagle Foundry, Greenock, Scotland. It is rated at 2,100 IHP and achieved a trial speed of 18.37 knots (34.02 km/h; 21.14 mph) at 57.8 rpm. Passengers can watch these engines from passageways on either side of the engine room.